Dimples processing method by means of end milling and end mill

Abstract

An end mill includes a major-diameter shank, a cone-shaped connector portion disposed at the end of the shank, a minor-diameter body disposed by way of the connector portion coaxially therewith, a toothed element disposed at the leading end of the body, an installation recess dented slightly in the toothed element, and a cutting edge held in the installation recess so as to swell in the shape of an arc to protrude from an outer peripheral face of the body.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A dimples processing method by milling, the dimples processing method being adapted for processing dimples, which are minor-diameter concaves or dents separated away from each other, by rotary cutting a surface of a workpiece using a milling cutter provided with one single toothed element which comprises one or two cutting edges disposed on an outer peripheral face near an end portion of a rod-shaped body having a rotational axis, the dimples processing method comprising:
 keeping a predetermined interval between the surface of the workpiece and the one single toothed element and moving the workpiece and the milling cutter relatively at a predetermined speed; 
 providing the rod-shaped body of the milling cutter with a conical portion reducing diametrically as heading toward a leading end of the rod-shaped body, the one or two cutting edges being disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the conical portion; and 
 forming the dimples separated away from neighboring dimples in a quantity of the number of cutting edges by rotating the rod-shaped body only once around the rotational axis. 
 
     
     
       2. The dimples processing method by milling as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein an inclination angle of an axial center in the body with respect to a tangential face in the workpiece is set to fall in a range of from −20 deg. to +75 deg. at a contact position between the body and the workpiece. 
     
     
       3. The dimples processing method by milling as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the milling cutter rotates around the rotational axis in compliance with a superficial configuration of the workpiece. 
     
     
       4. The dimples processing method by milling as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein
 the milling cutter includes the one single toothed element and a second single toothed element in which the one single toothed element is arranged near an end portion and the second single toothed element is positioned separated away from the one single toothed element in a direction of the rotational axis, 
 the milling cutter is positioned relative to the workpiece at a position capable of rotary cutting by both the one single toothed element and the second single toothed element and the predetermined interval is maintained; and 
 the dimples are formed in a quantity of two to four which are mutually separated away from one another by turning the rod-shaped body only once around the rotational axis. 
 
     
     
       5. The dimples processing method of milling as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the milling cutter is a ball end mill.